Hey Joe: Mailbag on seeds, threes and transfers

The postseason is still a month away, but that doesn't mean we can't start thinking about March ... and beyond.

*Taking the long view, doesn’t 5-1 down the stretch in your opinion allow MSU to hang on to a No. 3 seed? Given the 13-0 start, that would be 25-6 overall. Is Indiana on Sunday a must win in your opinion, or is running the table likely with a home and home at Ohio State and Wisconsin being factored in?

Ted in Maple Grove, Minn.

Ted, I think a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament is still on the table for the Spartans if they can win out from here – including the Big Ten tourney. That would mean a 29-5 record. If the Big Ten tourney included high-value wins over teams such as Iowa and Maryland, a No. 1 could still be in play with carnage elsewhere. And considering the season that’s unfolding, do we expect anything but carnage everywhere? In your scenario, a 5-1 finish to the regular season, I would think MSU would be in that 3-4 range heading to Indy, with a chance to move up or down that weekend. The reason the Indiana game is so important is that no other game in the regular season really does much for MSU’s resume. Does NCAA seeding matter? Probably not too much this season. I think being placed in the Midwest could matter, because it would mean playing in Chicago in the second weekend. The only way to ensure that is to be a No. 1 seed, and at this point Iowa has snatched that from the Spartans.

Izzo: 'We're playing (Valentine) into the ground'

*Why does Tom Izzo keeping playing Eron Harris? He can't shoot 1-for-8 again. He is the Russell Byrd of the team. He didn't play hardly at all in the second half and they erased an 18-point lead. Then starting the overtime he starts him again?? Why?? Alvin Ellis, Matt McQuaid and Marvin Clark are by far better players. Hopefully, Tom will give up on him after this game. They gave this game away in regulation at the end. 

Scott in Wake Forest, N.C.

Scott, I’m going to agree and disagree with you here. I agree that Tuesday simply wasn’t Harris’ night. I think Izzo was looking for fresh legs late, but I think McQuaid was the better option at that time. Harris was not getting it done. I’m going to strongly disagree that Izzo should give up on him, and that the other three players you mentioned are “by far better players.” Ellis had a strong stretch against Purdue, but he probably won’t and shouldn’t get many minutes from Harris moving forward. Clark plays power forward. Two of the three among Harris, McQuaid and Bryn Forbes are going to be on the perimeter with Denzel Valentine (until Tum Tum Nairn returns, whenever that is), and all three of those guys are important to the team. Don’t forget the 27 points Harris scored to help MSU beat Oakland, or the late baskets he had vs. Providence, or the job he did defensively against Maryland’s Melo Trimble. He’s struggling right now but he’ll be important for the Spartans in March.

Couch: Eron Harris learning through humbling start

*When Michigan was good for that window with Trey Burke and Nik Stauskas, I remember a lot of talk about how they've surpassed MSU as a program. Does that narrative no longer matter now, when they're average/bad and MSU is back to beating them up?

Eric in Cincinnati

Eric, I’m not going to tell you that you didn’t hear that from people, but I can tell you it didn’t rise to the level of “narrative.” MSU and Michigan were comparable teams in Burke’s two years, though U-M got to the title game his sophomore season. Both got to the Elite Eight the next year, after MSU hammered U-M in the Big Ten tourney final, playing the Wolverines with a full lineup for the first time. I think there was a lot of talk about a real rivalry between two strong programs. And I don’t think the talk is dead now that U-M has dipped a bit and MSU is coming off a Final Four and has won four straight in the series. John Beilein has done tremendous things with Michigan’s program. Tom Izzo is pushing toward 20 years with MSU as a national power. The only way there was a “lot of talk” about U-M surpassing MSU as a program is if you were listening to some of the U-M recruiting writers/diehard fans who are going to please the clientele.

*You almost never talk hockey, but the situation with MSU hockey is as bad as I can remember. Do you have an inkling on whether Tom Anastos gets a sixth year? Are his failures being masked by the successes in football and basketball?

Louis in Louisville

Not my wheelhouse, Louis, I don’t cover college hockey and I don’t have an inkling – but if I had to guess based on all that has been said and done, I would guess Anastos is back next season. To answer your last question, I suppose you could look at it that way. I would also assume the football/basketball success – and MSU women’s basketball success – has chopped into the hockey fanbase as well.

Solari: Clock ticking for Anastos as MSU hockey struggles

*Is this team’s biggest weakness its penchant for shooting threes? One of the big reasons we lose is Bryn Forbes having an off night shooting. I am not a fan of over-reliance on three-point shooting and am a firm believer that “if you live by the three you die by the three.” Will this doom this team? If I am an opposing coach, my scouting report will read bump Forbes and keep him off the three-point line. I know Izzo has mentioned how shooters are allergic to defense (paraphrasing here) and I think we have one too many on this team. Can this team shoot its way to a national championship or do we need to get more balance before the tournament?

Phil in Livonia

The fact that MSU is good at shooting threes is not a weakness. It helps you win. You’re right about the balance, though, and last week’s win at Michigan was exactly what MSU wants to do offensively. The Spartans took 22 threes (hitting a ridiculous 14) and went inside a lot and had success there. The problem with the Purdue matchup is that Purdue has a 7-footer at all times protecting the goal. So MSU didn’t have as much success posting/driving as in most games. But Matt Costello has come on as a reliable threat around the basket, and Deyonta Davis is another good option. I think MSU needs more driving and attacking, getting to the foul line, and that’s where Eron Harris should be doing more.

Is stopping Forbes the key to beating MSU?

*Looking at next season, there are 13-15 players who will want playing time. With Marvin Clark and Javon Bess not getting much playing time this year, could you see them transferring? What are your thoughts?

Patrick

Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes, Matt Costello and Colby Wollenman will be departing. Miles Bridges, Joshua Langford, Nick Ward and Cassius Winston will be arriving – and Josh Jackson is a possible fifth. It’s also possible that Deyonta Davis will leave. I think all four of those freshmen will be factors (five, obviously, if Jackson picks MSU). And the same should be true of Tum Tum Nairn, Eron Harris, Matt McQuaid, Gavin Schilling and Kenny Goins. Davis staying and Jackson joining would make for a playing rotation of 11. That doesn’t leave a lot of playing time for Bess, Clark or Alvin Ellis. Bridges will probably get a lot of minutes at the four next season and give MSU defensive flexibility there. Then again, you never know what might change. No one had Goins pegged for serious minutes this season. And there could be more opportunity for Bess and Clark as seniors in 2017-18. So could I see it? Sure. It’s still early to know, though.